Ring toss game apparatus



Sept. 22, 1970 E. BERGER 3,529,827

RING TOSS GAME APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 1, 1968 nwIINVENTOR. MILDRED E. BERGER AfioRNEY Sept. 22, 1970 M. E, BE GER3,529,827

RING Toss GAME APPARATUS Filed April 1, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet? FIG. 6

INVENTOR. MILDRED E.BERGER FIG. 5

ATTORNE United States Patent f 3,529,827 RING TOSS GAME APPARATUSMildred E. Berger, 3731 73rd St., Jackson Heights, N.Y. 11372 Filed Apr.1, 1968, Ser. No. 717,644 Int. Cl. A63b 67/06 US. Cl. 273100 4 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of theinvention This invention relates to an improvement in amusement devicesor games, and more particularly to a fortune telling device.

Description of the prior art 'Heretofore, games have been proposed inwhich a support is provided having a rod extending therefrom and adaptedto extend through a disk containing a plurality of apertures. Theaccuracy of the player throwing the disk being measured by his abilityto have the central aperture pass over the rod, and his skill beingdiminished if the player has the rod extending through one of theperipheral apertures. A game of this general type is disclosed in US.Pat. 2,146,457 and a variation thereof in US. Pat. 1,546,109.

Although games of the above description do provide a certain degree ofenjoyment to the user, they do not provide any true versatility ornovelty, since basically the pattern of the game is continually the samewithout any variations thereof. In addition the prior art games lackmobility since they generally require a fixed hook or other fastener tobe secured to the wall which requires making of a hole therein.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION It is a general object of the presentinvention to avoid and overcome the foregoing and other difficulties ofany objections to prior art devices by the provision of a simplifiedgame which is exciting to play, encourages the development of skill, andrewards the player with a fortune message.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a game which maybe played by and interesting to the old as well as the young contestantsand spectators and for which a minimum of skill is required.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improvedgame combining both amusement and skill in its operation and that may bereadily secured in place and removed for use on a variety of surfaces,without marring the surface it is secured to.

Another object is the provision of an improved game which issufficiently uncomplicated in its mode of operation for even children toenjoy.

Another object is the provision of an improved game which has theversatility of providing a challenge to those requiring the highestorder of skill, as well as being attractive to those seeking therelaxation inherent in games relying on chance alone.

3,529,827 Patented Sept. 22, 1970 "ice Another object of the inventionis to provide a game in which written information, which may take theform of fortunes, quotations, numerals and messages, may be contained onthe thrown disk and continually varied.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a game in whichthe written information in the form of messages on cards may beremovably secured to the throwing portion thereof and is unknown to theplayer until he hooks a guide rod through an aperture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a game in which aseries of disposable messages covering a variety of categories, such asevents, sports, sayings, movies, etc., which in turn may be used to playcharades, twenty (20) questions and other games.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other objects of the invention may beob tained by providing support means in the form of a support memberwith a substantially planar surface having retaining means extendingfrom the planar surface in the form of a rod with a tapered free end tofacilitate its movement through the throwing means which is thrownthrough the air by the player. The throwing means contains a baseportion having a plurality of apertures of varying configurationsextending therethrough. This provides a degree of difficulty due to boththe various crosssectional areas and various geometric forms involved.To add excitement to the amusement device indicia means are provided onthe base portion of the throwing means adjacent each aperture to providea selective change of information in accordance with the degree ofdifficulty of a respective aperture. Coupling means extending from thesupport means permits the retention of the amusement device in arelatively fixed position to receive the throwing means. The couplingmeans preferably includes at least two arms extending in a planesubstantially normal to the support member with suction cups secured atits free ends. This permits the support means to be fixed in place toboth wall and floor surfaces and considerably extends the mobility ofthe game since it may easily move without any permanent fastenersrequired. Identification means adjacent each aperture in the form of anumeral designation may also be provided. The number assigned isdirectly related to the difficulty of a particular aperture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other objects, features andadvantages will become more apparent from the following descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawings of preferredembodiments of the invention and wherein:

FIG. 1, is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the amusementdevice of the present invention in as sembled relation;

FIG. 2, is a front plan view of the throwing portion of the amusementdevice taken along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3, is a front view of the indicia portion shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4, is a sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3, showing theindicia portion of the invention;

FIG. 5, is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the amusement devicemounted in a horizontal plane, as on a wall; and

FIG. 6, is a view similar to FIG. 2, illustrating a modified throwingportion, taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 5.

DISCUSSION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings and particularlyto FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, we have in assembled relation the amusementdevice or game 10 of the present invention.

Support means The game 10 includes support means 12 in the form of asupport member 13 with a substantially planar front or all supportsurface 14 and rear surface 15 with a peripheral edge 16. The supportmember 13 as seen in FIG. 2, has a circular configuration and is ofsufiicient area to provide an ample support surface for the throwingmeans 35.

Retaining means The throwing means 35, containing a plurality ofapertures 36, is retained in a fixed position with respect to thesupport means 12 by retaining means 20, which extends from the supportsurface 14 of the support member 13. The retaining means includes a rod21 extending from the support surface 14 in fixed relation thereto as bya screw (not shown), for insertion within the apertures 36 of thethrowing means 35. The rod preferably has a tapered free end 22 so as tobe assured that if the rod 21 initially penetrates an aperture at even acorner thereof, it will with the force behind the throwing membercontinue to move over the rod 21 until the throwing means 35 comes intoa resting position as seen in FIG. 1.

Coupling means In accordance with the usage of the amusement device 10it is most important that it be of a portable nature, such that whetheradults or children utilize it, it may be moved from room to room in thehouse and may be easily assembled and disassembled without in any waynecessitating the driving of fasteners into the wall such that there isany marring of any surfaces with which it is used. Accordingly, couplingmeans 25 is provided that extends from the support member 13 forsecuring the support means 12 in a relatively fixed position forreceiving the throwing means 35. The coupling means 25 may include atleast two arms 26 extending in a plane substantially normal to the rearsurface 15 and secured thereto in any conventional manner, as byproviding blind bores 27 into which the arms 26 extend as by a pressfit. This permits the game 10 to be easily assembled and disassembled bythe user. At the respective free ends 28 of the arms 26 suction cups 29are secured thereto and in this manner the support means 12 may beremovably secured to a variety of surfaces for use of the amusementdevice.

As illustrated with respect to FIG. 1, the surface 30 to which thesuction cups 29 are secured may be the floor or perhaps a table or anyother surface desired. Although it is preferable that the suction cupsprevent any movement when a force is applied to the support means, themere fact that the rubber or plastic suction cups are contained at thefree ends 28 of the arms in and of itself substantially increases theamount of friction such that there is a minimum of movement when thethrowing means engages the retaining means 20 with a positive force.

Throwing means The throwing means 35 includes a plurality of openings orapertures 36 extending through a base portion 37 having a face surface38 and indicating surface 39. As seen with respect to FIG. 2, I haveselected for illustration apertures 36 of the following geometric forms,triangle 40, square 41, elipse 42, heart 43, octagon 44 and circle 45.The respective apertures are selected as to both shape andcross-sectional area, such that various degrees of skill are required inorder to obtain the rod 21 extending through a particular aperture. Asillustrated in FIG. 2, the player has first thrown the throwing means 35and has been able to obtain the rod 21 extending through the innersquare 41. These configurations of geometric forms have also beenselected not only for the fact that the crosssectional areas may beeasily varied but in addition that certain fortunes may be associatedwith respective openings as hereinafter explained in greater detail. Thethrowing means may include a peripheral bead 46 which may be secured tothe base portion, which has a substantially planar surface, by providingan annular groove 47 therein, which may easily receive the outer edge 48of the base portion 37.

As seen in FIG. 1, the peripheral bead 46 of the base portion 37 engagesthe support surface 14, and it is preferable that irrespective intowhich aperture 36 the rod 21 extends, that at least a majority of theperipheral head 46 is in overlapping relationship to the support surface14, if not at least all of it. Therefore, in accordance with oneembodiment the relationship of the respective areas of the supportsurface 14 and base portion 37 is such that irrespective of the aperture36 that the retaining means 20 extends through, the throwing means 35will be in complete overlapping relationship with the support means 12.

The positioning of the apertures 36 may in it of itself be selected toprovide a varied pattern to add further concepts to the game 10. As seenin FIG. 2, the plurality of apertures 36 may be positioned on an innerannular row and an outer annular row with a central aperture of acircular form 45 in the center.

To provide a degree of color to the throwing means 35 it may be dividedinto a plurality of sectors 50 on the indicating surface 39 with atleast any pair of adjacent sectors coded of a different distinctivemarking than the other, wherein when the throwing means 35 is flungthrough the air a visible pattern is obtained by its rotation.

Indicia means To provide a variety of information and permit the game tobe modified to provide a number of variations indicia means 55 isprovided. The indicia means 55 is capable of containing writteninformation which may take the form of fortunes, quotations, messagesand which are removably secured in place so that it may be viewed byvarious players of different ages. Accordingly, the indicia means 55provides an element of excitement and interest in that each respectiveaperture may have a different message associated therewith, dependentupon the degree of difficulty thereof.

As seen with respect to FIGS. 3 and 4, the indicia means 55 includes aplurality of holders or sleeves 56 secured to the face surface 38 of thebase portion 37 adjacent each aperture with each holder 56 adapted toreceive a card 57 containing information thereon. The information mayhave many variations for use with the amusement device 10. The holder 56has a bottom 58 which is secured to the face surface 38 by an adhesiveor other desired method, and which bottom has integrally formedtherewith a pair of parallel side walls 59 terminating inwardly formedlips 60 which essentially form a U-shaped channel for receipt of thecard 57. The fit between the card 57 and the holder 56 should be suchthat rotation of the throwing means 35 does not dislodge the cardtherefrom.

So that the player does not view the information contained on the card57 prior to an appropriate time, the card is provided with a removablecover 61 which cover may be of the type having an adhesive backing sothat it is easily removed from the card. Preferably, the width of thecover 61 is narrower than the opening formed by the spaced apart lips 60such that the cover 61 may be removed without the card being removedfrom its holder 56. One reason for this is that the game may becontinually played until all the fortunes or messages are uncovereduntil a new supply of cards are inserted.

Since the apertures 36 are of different cross-sectional areas and size,it is possible to provide a number of fortunes with respect to thevarious geometric sizes. A Table 1 below is a representative forpurposes of illustration, and is not in any way a limitation on thetypes of messages that may be contained on the cards associated With thedevice illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

TABLE 1 Identification means In view of the fact that each aperture 36will vary in cross-sectional area, I have found it possible to add anadditional dimension of variety to the game 10, by employingidentification means 65 on the indicating surface 39 of the throwingmeans 35. Preferably, said identification means 65 includes a numeraldesignation 66 for each of said respective apertures 36 with a numericalidentification assigned according to the dimensional difiiculty of arespective aperture. In this way we have a cross indexing so to speak ofboth the fortune and the particular aperture. This permits people ofvarious age groups to utilize the invention since messages of sorts maybe combined with numerical values, ranked according to their dimensionaldifliculty or probability. For example, numerals 1 through may beassigned apertures as in Table 2 below.

Operation of amusement device In accordance with the invention, theamusement device 10 may be supplied in disassembled relationship in acarton and the user initially inserts the arms 26 into the appropriatebores 27 in the support member 13 so that the device is placed inoperative assembled relationship. As indicated with respect to FIG. 1,this is obtained in the desired position which is as indicated on asubstantially horizontal surface 30 and as afterwards discussed withrespect to FIGS. 5 and 6, the surface may be substantially vertical andin which case a third arm may be utilized. Once the device is set upthen the player takes the throwing means 35 in his hand and throws it atthe support means 12, from a given distance away, such that theretaining means 20 in the form of a rod 21 penetrates through one of theapertures 36 so as to obtain the assembled relationship shown in FIG. 1.Prior to said time of throwing it the player may insert in each of therespective holders 56 an unknown message which is part of the indiciameans 55 and after the rod 21 is contained within a respective aperture36 the cover 61 of the indicia means 55 is removed and the player thensees the message or fortune for him. In addition the numerical 66 of theidentification means 65 may be kept separate and apart such that theperson having the ability to get the highest score may also be a winnerirrespective of what fortune he gets.

Obviously, various adaptions of the relationship between the indiciameans 55 and the identification means 65 may be Worked out to provide agreater degree of flexibility and utilization of the device 10. Forexample, both may be contained on one side of the throwing means, or thenumeral may vary in direct proportion to the cross-sectional area of therespective aperture.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention ilustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6, we have an amusement device 10a in which the supportmeans 12a is vertically mounted on a support surface 30a and in which athird arm is utilized such that it may be maintained thereon. As seenthe coupling means 25a is secured to the wall surface 30a in such amanner that if it is desired to be removed there are no permanentmarkings that are left on the wall surface, etc. In accordance with thisembodiment the indicia means 55a is provided in a similar manner asdiscussed with respect to the above referenced figures.

With respect to the throwing means 35a the apertures 36a are containedon a first annular inner row 70a and a second outer annular row 71a ofgreater diametrical dimension than said first annular row 70a, withrespective sets of apertures positioned on each of the rows 7 0a and 71aextending along a common line 72a emanating from the center of saidengagement means 35a. In addition sector common lines 73a divide thebase portion 37a into a plurality of equal sectors 50a and each of thesectors 50a may be coded, as by color, in a distinctive marking so thatit is visible when thrown through the air and rotation is obtained.

The various components of the amusement device may be fabricated from avariety of plastics, metal, rubber and other materials commerciallyavailable.

Although preferred embodiments have been illustrated, this invention isnot limited to the particular details of construction and operation asequivalents will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. An amusement device comprising:

(A) support means,

(B) retaining means extending from one side of said support means,

(C) throwing means including a base portion having a plurality ofapertures of varying configuration for receiving said retaining meanstherethrough,

(D) indicia means contained on said base portion adjacent saidrespective apertures, said indicia means adapted to be varied to providea selective change of information in accordance with a related aperture,said indica means including a plurality of similarly sized holderssecured to said base portion and each holder having removably receivedtherein a card containing information thereon, whereby continuingvariations of information may be utilized in conjunction with theamusement device, and

(E) coupling means extending from said support means for securing saidsupport means in a relatively fixed position for receiving said throwingmeans.

2. An amusement device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said card has aremovable cover, such that the information contained thereon is notvisible to the user until said cover is removed.

3. An amusement device comprising:

(A) support means,

(B) retaining means extending from one side of said support means,

(C) throwing means including a base portion having a plurality ofapertures of varying configuration for receiving said retaining meanstherethrough,

(D) indicia means contained on said base portion adjacent saidrespective apertures, said indicia means adapted to be varied to providea selective change of information in accordance with a related aperture,

(E) coupling means extending from said support means for securing saidsupport means in a relatively fixed position for receiving said throwingmeans, and

(a) wherein said support means has a support surface of across-sectional area at least equal to the area of said base portion,

(b) wherein said retaining means includes a rod extending from saidsupport surface for insertion within said apertures and having a taperedfree end to facilitate its movement therethrough,

() wherein said apertures of said throwing means are of variouscross-sectional areas and various geometric forms to provide a variedpattern of apertures,

((1) wherein said indicia means includes a plurality of holders securedto said base portion and each holder has received therein a cardcontaining information thereon, whereby continuing variations ofinformation may be utilized in conjunction with the amusement device,said card having a removable cover, such that the information containedthereon is not visible to the user until said cover is removed,

(e) wherein said coupling means includes at least two arms extending ina plane substantially normal to said support means and having suctioncups secured thereto at its respective free ends, whereby said supportmeans may be removably secured to a variety of surfaces for use of theamusement device, and

(f) identification means adjacent said respective apertures, saididentification means including a numeral designation for each of saidrespective apertures, said numeral identifications assigned according tothe dimensional difficulty of a respective aperture.

4. An amusement device comprising:

(A) support means,

(B) retaining means extending from one side of said support means,

(C) throwing means including a base portion having a plurality ofapertures of varying configuration for receiving said retaining meanstherethrough,

(.D) indicia means contained on said base portion adjacent saidrespective apertures, said indicia means adapted to be varied to providea selective change of information in accordance with a related aperture,

(E) coupling means extending from said support means for securing saidsupport means in a relatively fixed position for receiving said throwingmeans, and

(a) wherein said support means has a support surface of across-sectional area at least equal to the area of said base portion,

(b) wherein said retaining means includes a rod extending from saidsupport surface for insertion within said apertures and having a taperedfree end to facilitate its movement therethrough.

(0) wherein said apertures of said throwing means are of variouscross-sectional areas and various geometric forms, and said aperturesare contained on a first annular row and a second annular row of greaterdiametrical dimension than said first annular row, with respective setsof apertures positioned on each of said rows extending along a commonline eminating from the center of said engagement means, each of saidapertures of a respective set having a differing cross-sectionalconfigurations, wherein a varied pattern of apertures is obtained,

(d) wherein said indicia means includes a plurality of holders securedto said base portion and each holder has received therein a cardcontaining information thereon, whereby continuing variations ofinformation may be utilized in conjunction with the amusement device,said card having a removable cover, such that the information containedthereon is not visible to the user until said cover is removed, and

(e) wherein said coupling means includes at least two arms extending ina plane substantially normal to said support means and having suctioncups secured thereto at its respective free ends, whereby said supportmeans may be removably secured to a variety of surfaces for use of theamusement device.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 705,632 7/ 1902 Astarita.1,059,886 4/1913 Loomis 4649 1,549,109 7/1925 Roop 273 2,146,457 2/1939Vernon 273-100 X 2,911,758 11/1959 Carson 273 X 2,913,137 11/1959Alatorre. 3,113,778 12/1963 Silverman 273139 FOREIGN PATENTS 379,9079/1907 France.

609,996 5/ 1926 France.

159,971 2/ 1933 Switzerland.

45 ANTON o. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner M. R. PAGE, Assistant Examiner US.Cl. X.R.

